Both Nikon D5500 and Canon SL2 have APS-C sized 24.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.
Another difference between these two cameras is that Nikon D5500's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.
Below you can see the D5500 and SL2 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D5500 and Canon SL2 Cameras
As seen above, Nikon D5500 has a 1.1x Larger sensor area than Canon SL2. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Nikon D5500 and Canon SL2 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, D5500 has scored 84, 5 points higher than SL2.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Nikon D5500
84
24.1 bits
14.0 Evs
1438 ISO
Canon SL2
79
23.6 bits
13.4 Evs
1041 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Nikon D5500
or the
Canon SL2 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
